Jul 13, 2012

New Rule Energizes Notre Dame Coach

Hours away from the grind of the July evaluation period, Notre Dame men’s basketball coach Mike Brey could have approached breakfast at a popular Granger-area restaurant as his last meal.

Thanks to NCAA legislation that took effect July 1, Brey devoured his egg whites, bacon and side of blueberries as he would a post-game steak following a critical Big East mid-winter win. What was long considered the cruelest month for college basketball coaches as they spent much of it on airplanes, in rental cars or watching AAU games in chaotically noisy gyms, July has become quite kind.For the first time during Brey’s coaching tenure, which will include his 13th season at Notre Dame come fall, the NCAA has allowed coaches to hold two-hour practices once a week during summer school.

“I don’t know if there’s been a better rule passed in the last 15 years as far as what the NCAA had done for us in giving us access to our guys, Brey said earlier this week. From a basketball standpoint, it’s absolutely huge.”It’s the best rule in the last 20 years.”

July often was one of the toughest months for Brey because, honestly, he often felt like a fraud. Months earlier, he would sit in the living room of a prospect that would sign with Notre Dame and vow to be like a parent to the player. The kid would arrive for summer school with the rest of the Irish, but then Brey would be out on the road for as much as 20 days in the month.

Contact was limited to a quick phone call or a text as Brey bounced between AAU tournaments. The freshmen were left to figure it out for themselves.”I wouldn’t see them all summer, said Brey, who has long considered himself a teacher first, a basketball coach second.You weren’t in touch with your team. You just felt like you weren’t doing your job.”

Following a 75-minute practice earlier this week, Brey huddled with freshmen Zach Auguste, Cameron Biedscheid and Austin Burgett. The four talked a little about Xs and Os but a lot about class schedules, the adjustment to college, on life.

“You get the time to do the bonding and building of relationships that are so important, Brey said. I’ve never been so energized in the offseason because I’m able to teach.”

Brey believes that seeing his current guys play also will help the coaching staff focus on the future. Sitting Wednesday evening with assistant coach Martin Ingelsby in a gym outside Indianapolis, Brey figured to share a few thoughts on the previous night’s practice during any downtime.

Before the new rule, his mind would wander to the next recruiting stop or wonder what his players were doing back on campus.

Hours away from the grind of the July evaluation period, Notre Dame men’s basketball coach Mike Brey could have approached breakfast at a popular Granger-area restaurant as his last meal.

Thanks to NCAA legislation that took effect July 1, Brey devoured his egg whites, bacon and side of blueberries as he would a post-game steak following a critical Big East mid-winter win. What was long considered the cruelest month for college basketball coaches as they spent much of it on airplanes, in rental cars or watching AAU games in chaotically noisy gyms, July has become quite kind.For the first time during Brey’s coaching tenure, which will include his 13th season at Notre Dame come fall, the NCAA has allowed coaches to hold two-hour practices once a week during summer school.

“I don’t know if there’s been a better rule passed in the last 15 years as far as what the NCAA had done for us in giving us access to our guys, Brey said earlier this week. From a basketball standpoint, it’s absolutely huge.”It’s the best rule in the last 20 years.”

July often was one of the toughest months for Brey because, honestly, he often felt like a fraud. Months earlier, he would sit in the living room of a prospect that would sign with Notre Dame and vow to be like a parent to the player. The kid would arrive for summer school with the rest of the Irish, but then Brey would be out on the road for as much as 20 days in the month.

Contact was limited to a quick phone call or a text as Brey bounced between AAU tournaments. The freshmen were left to figure it out for themselves.”I wouldn’t see them all summer, said Brey, who has long considered himself a teacher first, a basketball coach second.You weren’t in touch with your team. You just felt like you weren’t doing your job.”

Following a 75-minute practice earlier this week, Brey huddled with freshmen Zach Auguste, Cameron Biedscheid and Austin Burgett. The four talked a little about Xs and Os but a lot about class schedules, the adjustment to college, on life.

“You get the time to do the bonding and building of relationships that are so important, Brey said. I’ve never been so energized in the offseason because I’m able to teach.”

Brey believes that seeing his current guys play also will help the coaching staff focus on the future. Sitting Wednesday evening with assistant coach Martin Ingelsby in a gym outside Indianapolis, Brey figured to share a few thoughts on the previous night’s practice during any downtime.

Before the new rule, his mind would wander to the next recruiting stop or wonder what his players were doing back on campus.